Scrapbooking My Priceless Adventures

Why is it so easy to want more?

Why is it so difficult to find contentment or even enjoyment with what we already hold in the palms of our hands (metaphorically speaking since generally the only thing in anyone's hands these days is some sort of tablet or smart phone)?

I had intended to pose these two questions before even stopping by Sluggy's recent blog post but after having just commented THERE I've left feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in an exact area where I have been feeling some lack as of late.

I LOVE to travel. It is NOT in our budget, nor has it been for several years past. The debt is SLOWLY being paid off, so slowly in fact that at times it back tracks. Sad truth. Between home repairs, car repairs, paying bills and well, life, when I save pennies those pennies need to go to very necessary things and while I might argue that travel is necessary there are things higher up on the list in life. (one of the reasons you find me fuming when a very young and very unattached boy out of school living at home complains about not being able to travel, hogwash!)

I'm not complaining about my current situation, nor am I saying that my traveling days are through, oh, not in the least. I just find myself at times wanting to escape to a new place in a season of life that is not open to that. I must admit that I've been very fortunate as far as travel is concerned (a thing that the great Sluggy's blog has just reminded me of) and in this current season of life I don't think it'd be unwise of me to use reflection and remembering to find joy through travel.

I've journeyed to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Canada (North of Michigan and East of Michigan) with high school friends on very throw the daily routine out the window and escape the humdrum of every day life last minute adventures.


A very dear friend and I drove almost the entire way cross country in one day (from Michigan to Western Montana) and continued on the next day to Seattle Washington. I saw things on that trip I'd never seen before, had the time of my life, and honestly spent very little money. I think that was one of the first adventures I had that I truly noticed beauty everywhere. There were bright yellow flowers blooming in desolate landscapes out west. The mountains in the black hills of South Dakota glittered. I remember Seattle smelling like coffee and fresh cut flowers. Oregon was the most green place I've ever seen in my life and driving through that mystical country led us both to viewing the Pacific ocean for the very first time (and so far only time).


My husband and I were married in Georgia and honeymooned there. We spent different anniversaries in NYC, Chicago, Tennessee (I've been there at least three times), Cleveland Ohio, oh, and Sandusky Ohio (Cedar Point). And one at one of the six flags, haha, I have no idea where that was. I've been to Detroit MANY times (was born there in fact... I know, nothing to brag about).


I've traveled to Guatemala, a place I proudly consider a second home, for four weeks out of four different years on missions trips with church family. I fell in love with that dusty country during the dry seasons, a dust that coats everything in sight, hair, skin, clothing, vegetation, cars, trucks, buildings, animals, and almost seems to claim everything within its grasp as it's very own. And it's a lush green VERY wet muddy paradise during the rainy seasons.


The trip my hubby and I took to Ireland several years back with his mom and her friend left me with an even greater love for a country that many of my ancestors came from, an album full of incredible photos, and a heart full of vivid memories of a fabulous vacation with my husband. I am NOT a bumming it on a beach type of vacation gal. I'd way rather drive around for hours on rickety winding roads (that host virtually no street signs) and look at crumbling buildings that radiate a history so vibrant and living that you can almost feel it seeping from them.


I'd be negligent to not mention the Christian music festival I attended in Illinois on ten different occasions. After so many times returning one realizes they've not driven over 6 hours for a music festival only but for a culture, a returning group of people (who you belong to after so long) who all drive to this spot on earth over and over again each year, for the music yes, and to camp out in a dirty, hot field for several days with thumping, vibrating, at times screeching music blaring for all hours of the day and several hours of the night, and cheer on musicians that have written songs that word for word declare many of your hearts cries, and to be together, again. Maybe my second home away from home. (the festival is no more however but being able to say I've gone ten years is a pretty good run for anyone, I'd say).


I've also been to Texas, as my Grandparent's were winter Texans for quite awhile. We visited Mexico while we were visiting them. My Grandparent's lived in Indiana for quite sometime (when they weren't living in Texas) so I've been there many a summer as well.


Sure I'd love to visit Alaska. I need to see the red wood trees. I'd love to view the Grand Canyon in person and sit somewhere quaint and watch the sunset on one of our Western United States deserts. I've heard that California is lovely (in some spots). Scotland, England, Sweden, and Latvia are desired destinations. A beautiful friend of mine has found a home and made a family for herself in New Zealand. I've heard that that country is as beautiful as she is.

BUT I'm not really able to lament my lack of travels these past three or four years as I've got a pretty good arsenal of memories under my belt, memories that live on, memories that have shaped me, molded me, and on occasion have drastically altered me. If you have made it all the way through this long drawn out post, thank-you for reading about my memories and travels. I cherish them. And I hope also, that you've something in the palms of your hands (other than a smart phone) that you are able to cherish deeply despite anything beyond your grasp that maybe your heart whispers to you that it is presently needing.

You may not really be in as desperate need as your heart believes.
I imagine you've already got quite a lot.